Aurelia Mbokazi-Kashe
As the Area Manager of Crop Insurance at Santam Insurance, overseeing North West and Gauteng, Omphile Sehoole has his hands full delivering on the promise to protect farmers’ livelihoods against disasters that threaten food security. An agronomist with a forward-thinking approach, he is passionate about his work and often goes beyond the call of duty to ensure his clients’ success, allowing them to work with peace of mind. He unpacks his career, challenges and how the agricultural sector has evolved.
What led you to agriculture?
Agriculture was never part of my plans growing up, I didn’t know much about it. I was accepted to study engineering geology, but quickly realised it wasn’t for me. After my first semester, the university had a programme where students could meet with a director to map out their studies. I told him I was interested in genetics, but he explained it was an academic path that required a master’s degree and a PhD. Instead, he suggested agriculture, saying, “People eat, and animals eat.” That’s how I ended up enrolling for a BSc in Agriculture in 2009. I had strong support from home. My mother had always wanted to study agriculture, and my sister pursued food management, which focused on the end product. But coming from Mabopane, Pretoria, the big question was: how would I work with white farmers?
Take us through your journey to your current role.
I graduated in 2014, still unsure of my career path, so I considered a master’s degree, but it didn’t feel right. Instead, I took a job as a grass specialist, working with golf courses – selling grass seeds and offering technical advice. I later transitioned into the fertiliser sector, where I worked until 2023, with a particular focus on organic fertilisers. When you study agronomy, you think you know the sector well, but I had no idea about crop insurance. I first came across it at a young farmers’ indaba, where I started engaging with industry experts to learn more. That’s when I also discovered that Santam was looking for an agronomist in Klerksdorp, so I took the plunge. I worked as a sales specialist for a small fertiliser company for eight months before joining Santam in October 2023. It has been a great experience so far. What I’ve learned here isn’t taught at university, and I believe it needs to be promoted more. There are only a handful of specialists in this field, and with Santam being a leader in crop insurance, its expertise and talent are highly valued across the industry.
What does your day-to-day work involve, and what are some of the biggest
challenges you help farmers navigate?
As an area manager, you need both marketing and technical expertise. Since we’re in insurance, we work closely with brokers. When the season starts around July, I get a list of client farmers in my area. I visit my brokers, go through the list, and check who is signing up for the season and who isn’t. I use a portal daily to track clients, speak to brokers, and review reports. During the season, when there’s hail or other damage, we send out assessors to inspect the farms. If I’m available, I also go into the field. Assessments can take a day or two, depending on the farm’s size. Once done, I return to Head Office to facilitate the claims process.
What are some of the most rewarding aspects of supporting farmers through
crop insurance solutions?
I love being in the field, engaging with farmers, and understanding their challenges. It’s rewarding to see something that started as a seed end up on the table. At university, we learn the theory, but being on the ground allows me to get my hands dirty and work with different personalities. In insurance, we’re dealing with farmers’
livelihoods. We know that damage can be stressful and put their future at risk, so our goal is to provide solutions that help them recover, prepare for the next season, and maintain sustainability. Crop insurance ensures that farmers can bounce back and continue growing.
For young people interested in careers within the agricultural sector what skills
or qualities do you believe are essential for success?
You need to be inquisitive, agronomy involves a lot of science and maths. Universities usually require at least 70% in maths and physical science at matric level to qualify for these studies. You also need to be agile and open to change because what works today might not apply tomorrow. Hard work is essential, as is the ability to adapt to different personalities in the field. After graduation, there are many career paths, such as becoming a business development manager, but strong interpersonal skills are crucial for success.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of agriculture in South
Africa, and how do you see your role evolving to continue making an impact?
I’m excited about AI and machine learning. Back when I was still at varsity, we used to talk about precision farming, and it felt like a distant dream. But it’s happening now. Farmers are using GIS to map their farms, identifying areas that are more or less productive and determining the optimal quantities to plant in each section.
This is where data science comes in. We’re making decisions based on the data we gather. It’s an exciting time, and it’s high time we start thinking differently about agriculture and embrace AI. Climate change is also a massive risk for our industry, and insurance companies will continue to play a crucial role. I’m currently studying for my master’s in climate change at the University of Free State. We really need to think critically and creatively about how we approach agriculture and reshape the landscape.
Emerging black farmers face many challenges such as access to funding, and
technical expertise. How do you support them in managing risks?
Most emerging farmers have small plots — they’re not farming 500 hectares — and
some aren’t full-time farmers, yet farming is hands-on work. They often lack funding, which makes inputs expensive, and many can’t afford crop insurance. Last year at Nampo, I spoke to a farmer who had never even heard of crop insurance.
Another challenge is the limited knowledge of agricultural best practices. Farmers often work with constrained resources, and the selection of seeds isn’t always tailored to the specific needs of their land. During a visit to a farmer in Randfontein, I noticed that his fields were not well-prepared. This highlighted a gap in understanding proper land preparation and choosing the most suitable seeds for his soil.
As an insurance company, we currently don’t have specific programmes for emerging farmers. However, we’re working on a new product designed for them, one that doesn’t require assessors to visit the farm. The idea is to make the process more accessible for farmers who, for example, are planting just 20 hectares. We also partner with seed companies and other organisations to provide support on the ground. As an area manager, I often go the extra mile to give farmers information and empower them, but unfortunately, it’s not always easy.
